<p>Cougar tracks do not  generally include claw marks, because cougars have retractable claws.</p> <p>The heel pad has three distinct lobes at the base of the heel pad, forming an “M” shape.</p>

CANYON CITY – A Canyon City woman opened her door about 7 a.m. Monday, July 25, to see a cougar crossing her driveway with her house cat in its mouth.

She called for her husband, then looked out and saw the cougar chasing the family’s second house cat.

She yelled at the cougar, which scared it away. The second housecat was able to get away, although the first one had been killed.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Ryan Torland received a phone call soon after.

By mid-morning, he’d pursued, located and shot the cougar, a male estimated at between 18 and 24 months old.

The animal was killed on Bureau of Land Management land just outside the city limits, adjacent to the couple’s private property.

ODFW policy allows cougars who’ve killed pets to be killed, as they’re considered a human safety threat. The agency doesn’t relocate cougars.

This type of occurence is infrequent in this area, but it can occur, said Torland.

“This young cat (mountain lion) was probably just pushed away from his mother and was struggling to make it on his own. He was looking for a place to live and a place to get some food. When we have a problem like this with animals, most of the time it’s with young males,” he said. “Young cougars aren’t experienced hunters. They’re trying to establish their own territory, and struggle a bit to do so.”

ODFW offers tips on living safely in “cougar country.”

Among those tips is to be aware of one’s neighborhood, and aware of any wildlife corridors or places where deer or elk concentrate. The primary food source for cougar is deer, although mountain lions will eat other smaller mammals.

“This was a natural area for cats (cougars) to cross, where there are some rocks. We do get sightings along Highway 395, not frequently, but commonly they’re seen in a natural place for them to cross,” said Torland of the Canyon City area homesite where the incident occurred.

People are urged to be especially cautious at dawn and dusk, when cougars are more active.

Livestock should be fenced and sheltered, moved to sheds or barns at night. Pets should be kept indoors at dawn and dusk, and also sheltered at night, ODFW advises.

Cougars are large cats with a consistent tan or tawny body color. An adult cougar’s tail is nearly three feet long and a third to one-half of it’s total length.

Cougar tracks can be differentiated from dog tracks by paying attention to detail. (See graphics of footprints with this story.)

It’s asked that cougar sightings and/or encounters be reported to a local ODFW office or Oregon State Police office, the sooner the better.

“Quick response on these things is important,” said Torland.

The district ODFW office can be reached at 541-575-1167.